The following morning, Kael found himself in a quiet clearing outside Eldoria, kneeling in front of a stern figure cloaked in white robes.
"I am Master Rennar," the man said, voice calm yet commanding. "I've been sent to teach you control over your power."
Kael's stomach twisted. "Control? I don't even understand what this power is yet!"
Master Rennar's eyes softened. "It is called Essence Flow—the energy that binds all life in these realms. You, Kael, are marked to manipulate it in ways no ordinary human can."
For hours, Kael trained under Rennar's watchful gaze. Sparks of blue energy danced around his hands as he attempted basic Essence shaping. Each failure sent a jolt of pain, but with every attempt, he felt something awakening within him—a raw connection to the world itself.
"Focus," Rennar said. "Essence is not only power; it is your mind, your will, and your heart. Bend it with intent."
Just as Kael began to grasp the flow, a scream shattered the calm. From the edge of the forest, dark figures emerged—assassins sent by the demon factions, no doubt.
Kael's heart raced. "I… I have to protect Liora… and the village!"
Rennar stepped forward, eyes narrowing. "Then show me what you've learned."
As Kael raised his hands, the Mark of Origin glowed fiercely. Essence swirled around him like a living storm, and the assassins froze, their eyes wide with shock.
For the first time, Kael understood: this was only the beginning. His training, his journey, and the fate of the Shattered Realms all rested on his next move.
—To be continued—